A circular indenter on a piezoelectric layer

This paper investigates a piezoelectric layer with a rigid indenter on its surface. Exact solution is given for a piezoelectric medium whose thickness is considerably larger than the diameter of the indenter. Different electrical boundary conditions that employ conducting or insulating indenters are presented. Effect of the permittivity of air (which surrounds the piezoelectric medium) is considered and is found to be negligible. Expressions for the singular mechanical and electric fields near the indenter front are established. Those expressions are useful for investigating the possible failure behavior of piezoelectric material near the indenter front. In addition, a numerical solution technique for an indentured piezoelectric layer of finite thickness is also given.